The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that forward Patrik Laine and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins have been activated off of injured reserve.
The team has also sent down goaltender Daniil Tarasov to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters as a corresponding move.
Laine has missed the past seven games after suffering a sprained ankle on Nov. 12 in a game against the New York Islanders. He also previously sat out early in the season with a wrist injury, limiting him to four points in eight games. Laine is in the first year of a four-year deal worth $8.7 million, and he’ll immediately return to his role as an impact goal-scorer for a team that needs it badly.
Merzlikins left Columbus’ Nov. 15 game against Philadelphia early with a hip injury. Prior to that, he had a 2-5-0 record with a .864 save percentage, putting him near the bottom among all goaltenders. Merzlikins had a rough go in the games leading up to his injury, allowing at least three goals in every start but the game in which he got injured.
Joonas Korpisalo has manned the crease for the most part in Merzlikins’ absence, now sitting at a 3-4-1 record. Tarasov has looked the best of the three goalies with a 2-3-1 record and a .912 save percentage as an NHL rookie. The three goalies have nearly split the entire season, as Korpisalo himself had to deal with an injury to kick off the season.
The Blue Jackets play next on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, so expect both to return heading into the weekend. The Blue Jackets are amid a three-game losing streak and sit last in the Eastern Conference with just 16 points in 21 games.
While it’s unlikely Laine or Merzlikins will do much to change Columbus’ fortunes, they’ll both be welcomed back with open arms after a tough start to the season.
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